Postage-stamp-vending machine



C. D. PRUITT. POSTAGE STAMP VENDING MACHINE APPLICATION FILED FEB. 10, 1920.

Patented Mar. 28, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET L I W H H! C. D. PRUITT.

POSTAGE STAMP VENDING MACHINE.

APPLXCATION FILED 8.1011920.

Patented Mai. 28, 1922.

C. D. PRUIIT. POSTAGE STAMP VENDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED FEB, I0, 1920. 1,410,955, Patented Mar. 28, 1922.

I 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A. lip/QUIT? rur oFFicE.

CONRAD D. PRUITT, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

POSTAGE-STAMP-VENDING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 28, 1922.

Application flied February 10, 1920. Serial No. 357,595.

I To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that I, CONRAD D. PRUrrT, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Im rovements in Postage-Stamp Vending Mac ines, of which the following is a specification.

' This invention relates to improvements in postage stamp vending machines and the primary object is to provide a machine of this character which will operate with greater efliciency, reliability, and in a more positive manner to deliver a predetermined number of selected postage stamps upon the deposit of a coin and the turning of a shaft, the mechanism of the machine being constructed with a view to simplifying the construction and reducing the number of parts usually employed in vending apparatus of this type, and with a view to preventing accidental derangement of parts or their getting out of order and failing to operate properly, whereby certalnty and accuracy of operation is insured.

In said drawings I have shown one form of the construction of my invention, but it is to be understood that I do not-limit myself to such form, since the invention as expressed in the claims may be embodied in a plurality of forms.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the vending machine showing the housing therefor broken away.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1, particularly illustrating the coin control mechanism.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, particularly illustrating the delivering or vending mechanism.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 1, showing the vending or delivering mechanism in re tracted position.

Figure 5 is a detailed sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 1, illustrating the connectin means between the coin control and "endlng mechanism.

Figure 6 is an end elevation of the machine with one end wall of the housing re moved.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detall top plan view of a part of the vending mechanism.

Figure 8 is a detail plan view of the coin and locking disks.

Referring particularly to the drawings. 1 designates a housing mounted upon a suitable base 2 and which encloses the mechanlsm of the machine. This housing may be of any desired form, but preferably. as shown, it is made to simulate a cash register and comprises a front wall 3, a rear wall 4, end Walls 5, and a curved or arched top wall 6. The rear wall 4 is made removable so as to permit of access to the mechanism and is locked in place by suitable locking means 7.

Inasmuch as postage stamps of different denominations are to be vended with this machine, there are provided two identically constructed mechanisms, each including a coin control mechanism and a vending mechanism and only one mechanism need be described.

The coin control mechanism comprises a shaft 8 rotatably mounted in bearings 9 of an upright frame 10, which frame is secured, as at 11, to the base 2. The shafts of the coin control mechanism extend outwardly through end walls 5 and have knurled operating handles 12 mounted thereon to provide for rotation of the shafts from points exterior to the housing. Fixed to the shaft 8 is a circular coin disc 13 having a coin receiving recess 14 therein which opens at the periphery of the disc and is adapted to receive coins from an inclined chute 15 supported by a bracket 16 upon the frame 10. The outer upper end of the chute registers with a slot 17 formed in the front wall 3 of the housing, and this slot is of such a size to permit only coins of a certain denomination to be inserted into the chute. A locking disc 18 is loosely mounted upon the shaft 8 and is provided on the face thereof opposed to the disc 13 with lugs 19 adapted to engage similar lugs 20 on said disc 13. A coil spring 21 surrounds the shaft 8, and has one end engaged with the lug 20, and at its other end engages the lug 19 and exerts a tendency normally to mailitain the lugs 19 and 20 in contact with one another, whereby the disc 13 will be held with the coin receiving recess 14 registering with the inner lower end of the chute 15. A pawl 22 is fixed at one end, as at 23, to the frame 10, with its other end in a position to engagev with teeth 24 formed on the periphery of the disc 13. This pawl engages the teeth so as to hold the disc 13 against being rotated by the action of the spring 21. out of coin receiving position, but permits the disc torotate in the other direction. A coin operated detent or pawl 25 is pivoted, as at 26, to the frame 10 and is provided with a lug 27 adapted to engage in a notch 28 formed in the periphery of the disc 18, whereby the disc 18 is held against movement in the direction that will permit the disc 13 to rotate. This pawl 25 is held in position by a retractile spring 29 and by a spring 30, which latter is secured at its ends to the pawls 25 and 22 respectively. To prevent the disc 13 from being rotated in one direction when no coin iscontained in the recess 14, a stop lug 31 is provided on the disc 13 and is adapted to engage one of the lugs 19 on the disc 18. It willthus be seen that by turning the shaft 8, the disc 13 is permitted to move a slight distance in either direction, said distance being equal to the space between the lugs 20 and 31, which lugs are engaged by the lug 19 so as to prevent further movement of the disc 13. The pawl 22 prevents movement of the disc 13 in the other direction and since the loosely mounted disc 18 is held by the lug 27 and the spring 21 has a tendency to return the disc 13 to normal position, no matter how much the shaft is turned, when no coin is in the recess, the spring will return said disc 13 into coin receiving position.

When a coin is deposited in the chute and enters the recess 14 in the disc 13, by turning said disc 13, the coin will act as a cam and engage the detent or pawl 25 and force said pawl outwardly so that the lug 27 is disen aged from the recess 28. At this time, the ug 19 on the locking disc 18 is engaged by the lug 31 on the coin disc 13 and as the disc 18 is .free to move, it ofl'ers no resistance to rotation of the disc 13, and it is possible to continue with rotation of the disc 13 so as to effect the operation of the vending mechanism as will be later more fully described. The recess 14 registers with the opening 32 on one side of the disc 13 and if a coin, deposited by mistake, is smaller than designed to engage in the re cess it will pass out through the opening 32 and into a return chute 34 which delivers the coin back to the erson having deposited the coin. A coin oi the proper denomination will seat in said recess, partly projecting therefrom and after having performed the office of disengaging the pawl 25, will dropout f the recess and into the bottom of the housing upon the base 2. A suitable till, not shown. may be provided, which will receive said coin.

The vending or stamp delivering apparatus comprises an arm 35 loosely mounted on the shaft 8 and at its outer end carrying a stamp engaging and delivering mechanism, generally designated 36. This mechanism rides over a downwardly and forwardly curved plate 37 supported by the frame 10 and'over which stamps are longitudinally moved to effect the delivery thereof. An arm 38 projects upwardly from the frame 10 and at its upper end carries a U-shaped stamp-roll holder 39 upon which a roll of stamps 40, each stamp being separated from the other by a line of perforations 41, is mounted. The U-shaped holder has one end pivoted, as at 42, to the upper end of the arm 38, and the other end of the holder is adapted to engage upon one side of'the arm. A spring 43 is mounted upon the pivoted portion of the holder, fixed to said portion, at one end, and at its other end to the arm 38, whereby said holder may be swung upwardly in horizontal position to receive a stamp roll and when released, the spring will return the holder so that the lower arm thereof will engage with the arm 38. as shown in Figure 6 of the drawing. The stamps are directed downwardly from the holder over a guide bar 44 and on to the curved plate 37. The curved plate terminates rearwardly of a chamber 45 supported by the frame 10 and stamps to be delivered are severed from the roll by cutting means 46 at the end of said plate and will gravitate into said chamber. The front wall of the housing is provided with an opening 48, which registers with the lower end of the compartment 45 and provides for the removal of stamps delivered into said compartment. The opening 48 is relatively small so as to prevent a person from inserting the hand well into the compartment and removing stamps from the roll, only those stamps cut off from the roll and deposited in the compartment being obtainable from the outside of the housing.

The arm 35 is actuated by a disc 49 fixed -upon the shaft 8 and provided with lugs 50 and 51 diametrically opposite each other on the inner face of the disc. These lugs are adapted to engage at different times, an arm 52 pivoted as at 53 at one end, to the frame 10 and connected by an adjusting device 54 at its other end with the arm 35. The adj usting device comprises a link 55 pivoted to the lower end of the arm and to a U-shaped member 56 which is adj ustably mounted upon the arm 35 by a screw 57. By the adjusting screw 57 the link is made shorter or longer, as desired, and this will control the throw of the arm 35 and control the number of stamps to be delivered. An arcuate cam member 52 is carried by the disc 49 and is concentric with the center thereof and arranged to engage the arm 52 when the apparatus is in normal position so that a certain movement of the mechanism may take place before the arm 52 is and 51.

The means 36 carried by the arm 35 for engaging the stamps and moving them forwardly on the curved plate comprises preferably two spring-pressed clamps 58 and 59 pivotally mounted, one behind the other, between enlargements 60 carried at the ends of the arms and which are adapted to engage in the perforations between the stamps so as to move said stamps along the curved plate 37. These clamping devices are provided with upstanding lugs 61 connected with oneanother by a link 62. Each clamping device comprises a pivoted base 63 to which a plurality of forwardly ranging spring fingers 6- are attached, the fingers being reduced at their forward ends, pointed and downwardly curved, whereby they will engage in the perforations in thestamp roll. A tension plate 65 is adjustably mounted upon the pivoted base 63 and bears upon these fingers. A screw 66 inserted through the base 63 and tension plate 65, on which a nut 67 is mounted, provides for forcing said plate against the fingers to place said fingers under tension, this being efi'ected by turning thenut. A retractile spring 68 is secured at one end to the arm 35 and at its other end to the rearmost clamping device 59. This spring exerts a tendency which causes the spring fingers 64 on each device to press upon the stamps.

As a means for lifting both of said clamping members out of clamping position, the foremost clamping member 58 is provided with a lug 69 on one side thereof which is adapted to be engaged by one end of a lifting pawl 70. This pawl 70 is pivoted on one side of the arm 35 intermediate of its ends and at its upper end is adapted to be engaged by lugs 71 on the locking disc 18 and rocked when the clamping members 58 and. 59 are moved to their foremost position. By rocking this pawl 70, the lower end thereof will engage the lug on the clamping device, and lift up the clamping finger 64 of the clamp 58. which. through the link connection with the other clamping device. will likewise lift the spring fingers of the other clamping device. As a means for returning the arm 35 with the clamping mechanism on the end thereof to normal position. a spring 72 is mounted upon the shaft and is connected at its ends with the arm 35 and with the frame 10. A guide rod 73 is secured at one end adjacent. to the forward end of the plate and extends over said plate a slight distance above the upper face thereof. This rod will prevent the stamps from buckling as they pass forwardly. The forward end of the rod may be attached to a U-shaped bracket 74 secured to the forward'end of the plate and through which the stamps pass.

The cutting mechanism comprises a knife engaged by the lugs 75 pivoted at one end to the frame 10 and adapted to 00-0 erate with a knife edge 76 formed on the lower edge of a bar 77 extending across the front of the curved plate. By lifting up the knife 75 a scissors cutting action is, provided for severing thestamps at the perforations. A link 78 is pivoted at one end to the free end of the knife 75 and pivotallyg connected with a rocker arm or bell-crank 79 pivotally carried by the frame 75 10. The other end of this bell-crank 79 is adapted to be engaged by a lug 80 on the disc 49, said lug being arranged to engage said bellcrank once during every complete revolution of the disc 49.

A retractile spring 81 secured, as at 82, to the lower part of the frame 10 and to the knife 75. This spring tends to return the knife to the normal position and quickly moves .it out of cutting position whereby 85 the knife will not interfere with the dropping of the stamps into the chamber 45. A coil spring 83' on the pivot for the knife 75 acts as a tension on the knife to insure positive cutting at all times. The machine which I have illustrated and describ d is adapted for vending stamps of two ,different denominations, for instance, 1 and 2 cent stamps, but it is to be understood that the machine may be made of several units, so that a greater number of denominations may be vended. The operation of a unit is as follows:

Assuming that a five cent piece is inserted into the chute 15, through the slot 17 in the front wall 3 of the, housing, the five cent piece will gravitate through the inclined chute into the recess 14 in the coin disc 13 and will project out of said recess and serve as a cam. Prior to the insertion of the nickel, the shaft 8 and discs 13 and 18 are prevented rotation by the co-operating locking elements, the pawls 22, 25 and the lugs 19 and 20, and 31 on the receiving discs, the key to unlocking these elements being the pawl 25. With the five cent piece in the recess 14, by now turning the shaft 8 and disc 13 thereon, the coin is brought into contact with the pawl 25 and moves said pawl outwardly, against the action of the springs 29 and 30, withdrawing the lug 27 from the recess 28 in the disc 18. As the locking disc 18 is now free to rotate, the disc 13 will likewise rotate until the lug 50 on the disc 49 engages the arm 52. Less than one fourth of a revolution of these discs has been effected before the lug 50 engages the arm 52 and by continuing rotation of the shaft 8 and disc 49 fixed'thereto, the arm 52 is forced downwardly and forwardl and communicates a pull to the arm 35 t rough the link 55. The stamps are arranged in the machine so that five will be delivered at a time and this is accomplished by having two stamps disposed in front of the foremost 1 0 clamping device 58. The cam 52 at this time engages with the arm 52 and thus holds the delivering device with the fingers in position engaging behind the line of perforations separating the second and third stamps. This cam allows the mechanism to move a short distance before effecting the movement of the arm 52, the movement of which latter takes lace when the lug 50 engages the arm 52. he spring fingers 64 of said device engage in the perforations separating the second from the third stamp. Thus, as the spring fingers of the clamp 58 engage the perforations between the second and third stamp and the spring fingers of the clamp 59 I engage the perforations between the third and fourth stamp, by continuing the rotation of the shaft, the arm 35, with the clampin devices on its end, is moved downwardly an forwardly, causing said stamps to be pushed forwardly off of the curved plate and into the chamber 45. When the'arm 35 with the clamping devices complete their forward movement, the lifting pawl is engaged at its upper end by one of the lugs 71 and rocked so that the lower end is moved upwardly, engages the lug 69 on the foremost clamping member 58 and causes the spring fingers 64 to be lifted upwardly. This rocking movement of the clamping member 58 is communicated to the clamping member 59 through the link connection between said clamping members, causing the fingers 64 of the rearmost clamping members, to be likewise lifted out of position. When the two stamps have been projected into the chamber 45, the lug 50 as moved through substantially 90 of arc and ceases to force said arm 52 forwardly and continued rotation of the shaft 8 allows the spring 72 to return the arm 35, arm 52 and clamping devices 58 and 59 to normal position, the spring fingers being lifted from contact with the stamps and held lifted until said clamping members are returned to position further rearwardly than at first assumed, since at this time the cam 52' does not come in contact with the arm 52 and the spring 30 moves the arm 52 so as to engage the shaft 8, which shaft then serves as a stop. This extra movement allows the spring fingers tobe moved further rearwardl than when in position to engage between the second and third stamps and causes the fingers to engage behind the perforations separating the third and fourth stamps At this time, the lifting pawl 70 will disengage from one of the lugs 71 and allow the fingers to return to clamping position upon the stamps, both of said sets of fingers being allowed to return to clam position at a point rearwardly of the ines of perforation in the stamp roll they are adapted to engage. At this time, the shaft 8 and discs have made one-half of a revolution and by rotating the shaft 8 and discs through the other half of the complete revolution, the spring fingers are brought into contact with the perforations rearwardly of the fifth and sixth stamps. At the beginning of this second half of the revolution, two of the stamps still attached to the roll project into the compartment 45 and at the completion of this half of the revolution, the three adjoining stamps are projected into the chamber 45 and this projection of the stamps ceases when the lines of perforations separating the fifth and sixth stamps is in alinement with the knife 75. Just at completion of this revolution the lug 80 on. the disc 49 engages the bell crank, rocks said bell crank and pulls upwardly on the knife 75, causing the knife to sever the five projected stamps at the line of perforation 1y ing between the knife 75 and the knife edge 76. The stamps will drop into the chamber 45 and may be removed from the vending machine by reaching into the chamber through the opening 48 in the housing 1. Just as the knife begins its upward movement the arm 52 is engaged by an arcuate stop member on the disc 49 which member 100 is concentric with the shaftand holds said arm stationary during the turning of the shaft to effect the severing or cutting of the stamps. The operation of the other unit 95 which vends stamps of another denomination, for instance, two cent stamps, is the same as the operation of the hereinbefore described unit, there being five stamps delivered on every complete revolution of the shaft 8 and its co-operating discs. I may provide for the delivery of more or less stamps, as desired, and I can effect an adjustment of the mechanism through the ad'usting device 54 by turning the screw 5 of said device or by the arrangement of stamps when the latter are put into the machine and arranged to be vended but I prefer to pro-' vide for the delivery of five stamps as this is a much more practical arrangement and calls for the expenditure of moneys in even small amounts, such as five and ten cent pleces.

I claim 1. In a vending machine for postage stamps, a frame, a rotary shaft in the frame, an aim movable on the shaft, stampdelivery means on the arm, a plurality of stamps in strip form, a.plate over WhlCll said means and the stamps ride and means operated by rotation of the shaft for moving said arm and delivery means over said plate so as to deliver the stamps.

2. In a postage stamp vending machine, a rotary shaft, a frame supporting the shaft, an arm movably mounted on the shaft, a roll of stamps, a plate upon which part of the stamps lie, means on said arm for engaging the stamps and moving them forwardly over saidplate when the arm is moved over the gnome plate and means operated by rotation of the shaft for moving said arm over the plate.

3. In a postage stamp vending machine, a rotary shaft, a frame supporting the shaft, an arm movably mounted on the shaft, a roll of stamps, a plate upon which part of the stamps lie, means on said arm for engaging the stamps and moving them forwardly over said plate when the arm is moved over the plate, means operated by rotation of the shaft for moving said arm over the plate, and means for automatically returning the arm to normal position when the arm is moved a predetermined distance over said plate.

4. In a postage stamp vending machine, a rotary shaft, a frame supporting the shaft,

' an arm movably mounted on the shaft, a roll of stamps, a plate upon which part of the stamps lie, means on said armfor engaging the stamps and moving them forwardly over said plate when the arm is movedover the plate means operated by rotation of the shaft for moving said arm over the plate, and means for disengaging said means for engaging the stamps when the said engaging means has moved a predetermined distance over said plate.

5. In a postage stamp vending machine, a rotary shaft, a frame supporting the shaft, an arm movably mounted on the shaft, a roll of stamps, a plate upon which part of the v stamps lie, means on said arm for engaging the stamps and moving them forwardly over said plate when the arm is moved over the plate, means operated by rotation of the shaft for moving said arm over the plate, means for automatically returning the arm to normal position when the arm is moved a predetermined distance over said plate, and means for disengaging said means for engaging the stamps, when the said engaging means has moved a predetermined distance over said plate.

6. In a postage stamp vending machine, a frame, a roll of stamps supported on the frame, a plate upon which one end of the roll of stamps is mounted, a rotary shaft in the frame, an arm loosely mounted on the shaft and having one end arranged to move over said plate, means for moving said arm over said plate, means for clamping said stamps and carried on the end of the arm,

means for releasing said clamp when the arm has moved a predetermined distance, means for returning the arm back to normal position when the shaft is rotated past a predetermined position, and means for causing saidclamping means to again clamp the stamps upon further rotation of the shaft when the arm has returned to normal position.

CONRAD D. PRUITT. 

